Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, we follow the Meraglim (the spies) as they journey through the Promised Land, from the wilderness of Zin all the way to Chevron, where they encounter giants and gather the massive, miraculous fruits of the land. We see their return after forty days, where they present their report to Moshe Rabbeinu, Aharon, and the entire congregation of Bnei Yisrael, showing them the fruit but quickly slipping into a frighteningly negative report about the strength of the inhabitants and their fortified cities.

We then witness the heartbreaking turning point where the Meraglim actively discourage the nation, despite Calev's brave attempt to quiet the crowd and remind them of Hashem's power. The spies spread a terrible report, claiming the land devours its inhabitants, which throws the entire camp of Bnei Yisrael into despair, leading to weeping, complaints against Moshe and Aharon, and a tragic desire to return to Mitzrayim.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וַיַּעֲלוּAnd they went upוַיָּתֻרוּand they scoutedאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe landמִמִּדְבַּרfrom the wilderness ofצִןZinעַדuntilרְחֹבRechobלְבֹאat the entrance ofחֲמָת׃Chamas

רַשִׁ״י

ממדברFrom the desert ofצןZinעדuntilרחבRehobלבאas one comes toחמת.HamathהָלְכוּThey wentבִגְבוּלֶיהָalong its boundariesבְאֹרֶךְin lengthוּבְרֹחַבand in widthכְּמִיןlike the shape ofגַּ"ם,a gammaהָלְכוּthey wentרוּחַthe side ofגְּבוּלthe boundary ofדְּרוֹמִיתthe southמִמִּקְצוֹעַfrom the corner ofמִזְרָחthe eastעַדuntilמִקְצוֹעַthe corner ofמַעֲרָב,the westכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁצִּוָּהthat commandedמֹשֶׁהMosheעֲלוּGo upזֶהthis wayבַנֶּגֶבin the south—דֶּרֶךְthe way ofגְּבוּלthe boundary ofדְּרוֹמִיתthe southמִזְרָחִיתeasternעַדuntilהַיָּםthe sea—שֶׁהַיָּםfor the seaהוּאitגְבוּלthe boundary ofמַעֲרָבִי,the westוּמִשָּׁםand from thereחָזְרוּthey turnedוְהָלְכוּand they wentכָּלall ofגְּבוּלthe boundary ofמַעֲרָבִיthe westעַלalongשְׂפַתthe coast ofהַיָּםthe seaעַדuntilלְבֹאas one comes toחֲמָת,Hamathשֶׁהוּאwhich isאֵצֶלnearהֹרHorהָהָרthe mountainבְּמִקְצוֹעַin the corner ofמַעֲרָבִיתthe westצְפוֹנִית,northכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁis explainedבִּגְבוּלוֹתin the boundaries ofהָאָרֶץthe Landבְּפָרָשַׁתin the parsha ofאֵלֶּהElehמַסְעֵי:Masei

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וַיַּעֲלוּAnd they went upבַנֶּגֶבin the southוַיָּבֹאand he cameעַדuntilחֶבְרוֹןChevronוְשָׁםand thereאֲחִימַןAchimanשֵׁשַׁיSheshaiוְתַלְמַיand Talmaiיְלִידֵיthe children ofהָעֲנָקthe giantוְחֶבְרוֹןand Chevronשֶׁבַעsevenשָׁנִיםyearsנִבְנְתָהwas builtלִפְנֵיbeforeצֹעַןTzoan ofמִצְרָיִם׃Mitzrayim

רַשִׁ״י

ויבאAnd he cameעדuntilחברון.HevronכָּלֵבCalevלְבַדּוֹaloneהָלַךְwentשָׁםthereוְנִשְׁתַּטֵּחַand prostrated himselfעַלuponקִבְרֵיthe graves ofאָבוֹתthe Patriarchsשֶׁלֹּאso that notיְהֵאhe would beנִסָּתenticedלַחֲבֵרָיוby his companionsלִהְיוֹתto beבַּעֲצָתָם,in their counselוְכֵןand soהוּאitאוֹמֵרsaysדבריםDevarimא'1,"וְלוֹand to himאֶתֵּןI will giveאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרthatדָּרַךְhe trodבָּהּ",upon itוּכְתִיבand it is writtenשופטיםShoftimא'1"וַיִּתְּנוּand they gaveלְכָלֵבto Calevאֶת—חֶבְרוֹן"HevronסוטהSotahל"ד34b:

רַשִׁ״י

שבעSevenשניםyearsנבנתה.was builtאֶפְשַׁרIs it possibleשֶׁבָּנָהthat builtחָםChamאֶת—חֶבְרוֹןChevronלִכְנַעַןfor Kenaanבְּנוֹhis sonהַקָּטָןthe youngerקֹדֶםbeforeשֶׁיִּבְנֶהthat he builtאֶת—צֹעַןTzoanלְמִצְרַיִםfor Mitzrayimבְּנוֹhis sonהַגָּדוֹל?the elderאֶלָּאratherשֶׁהָיְתָהthat it wasמְבֻנָּהbuilt upבְּכָלwith allטוּבgoodnessעַלbyאֶחָדoneמִשִּׁבְעָהof sevenבְצֹעַן,over Tzoanוּבָאand it comesלְהוֹדִיעֲךָto let you knowשִׁבְחָהּthe praiseשֶׁלofאֶרֶץthe Land ofיִשְׂרָאֵל,Yisraelשֶׁאֵיןfor there is notלְךָto youטְרָשִׁיןrocky groundבְּאֶרֶץin the Land ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelיוֹתֵרmoreמֵחֶבְרוֹןthan Chevron—לְפִיכָךְthereforeהִקְצוּהָthey designated itלְקִבְרוֹתfor burial ofמֵתִיםthe dead—וְאֵיןand there is notלְךָto youמְעֻלָּהexcellentבְּכָלin allהָאֲרָצוֹתthe landsכְּמִצְרַיִם,like Mitzrayimשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"כְּגַןlike the garden ofה'Hashemכְּאֶרֶץlike the land ofמִצְרַיִם"MitzrayimבראשיתBereishisי"ג13,וְצֹעַןand Tzoanהִיאitהַמְעֻלָּהthe most excellentשֶׁבְּאֶרֶץthat is in the land ofמִצְרַיִם,Mitzrayimשֶׁשָּׁםfor thereמוֹשַׁבwas the seat ofהַמְּלָכִים,the kingsשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"כִּיforהָיוּwereבְצֹעַןin Tzoanשָׂרָיו"his princesישעיהוYeshayahuל'30,וְהָיְתָהand wasחֶבְרוֹןChevronטוֹבָהbetterמִמֶּנָּהthan itשִׁבְעָהsevenחֲלָקִיםtimesסוטהSotahל"ד;34bכתובותKesuvosקי"ב112a:

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וַיָּבֹאוּAnd they cameעַדuntilנַחַלthe valley ofאֶשְׁכֹּלEshcolוַיִּכְרְתוּand they cutמִשָּׁםfrom thereזְמוֹרָהa branchוְאֶשְׁכּוֹלwith a cluster ofעֲנָבִיםgrapesאֶחָדoneוַיִּשָּׂאֻהוּand they carried itבַמּוֹטon a poleבִּשְׁנָיִםby twoוּמִןand ofהָרִמֹּנִיםthe pomegranatesוּמִןand ofהַתְּאֵנִים׃the figs

רַשִׁ״י

זמורה.A branchשׂוֹכַתa bough ofגֶּפֶן,a vineוְאֶשְׁכּוֹלand a clusterשֶׁלofעֲנָבִיםgrapesתָּלוּיhangingבָּהּ:from it

רַשִׁ״י

וישאהוAnd they carried itבמוטon a poleבשנים.by twoמִמַּשְׁמַעFrom the implicationשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרof what is said"וַיִּשָּׂאֻהוּAnd they carried itבַמּוֹט"on a poleאֵינִיdo I notיוֹדֵעַknowשֶׁהוּאthat it wasבִשְׁנַיִם?by twoמַהwhatתַּ"לdoes the teaching say"בִּשְׁנָיִם"?by twoבִּשְׁנֵיwith twoמוֹטוֹת.polesהָאthisכֵיצַד?how soשְׁמוֹנָהEightנָטְלוּtookאֶשְׁכּוֹל,the clusterאֶחָדoneנָטַלtookתְּאֵנָהa figוְאֶחָדand oneרִמּוֹן;a pomegranateיְהוֹשֻׁעַYehoshuaוְכָלֵבand Kalevלֹאdid notנָטְלוּtakeכְלוּם,anythingלְפִיbecauseשֶׁכָּלthat all ofעַצְמָםtheir essenceלְהוֹצִיאto bring outדִּבָּהan evil reportנִתְכַּוְּנוּthey intended—כְּשֵׁםjust asשֶׁפִּרְיָהּits fruit isמְשֻׁנֶּהextraordinaryכָּךְsoעַמָּהּits people isמְשֻׁנֶּה;extraordinaryוְאִםAnd ifחָפֵץdesireאַתָּהyouלֵידַעto knowכַּמָּהhow muchמַשּׂאוֹיthe burden ofאֶחָדoneמֵהֶם,of them wasצֵאgoוּלְמַדand learnמֵאֲבָנִיםfrom the stonesשֶׁהֵקִימוּthat they set upבַּגִּלְגָּלat Gilgal—הֵרִימוּthey liftedלָהֶםfor themselvesאִישeach manאֶבֶןa stoneאַחַתoneמִןfromהַיַּרְדֵןthe Yardenעַלuponשִׁכְמוֹhis shoulderוֶהֱקִימוּהָand they set it upבַּגִּלְגָּלat GilgalיהושעYehoshuaד'chapter 4—וּשְׁקָלוּםand they weighed themרַבּוֹתֵינוּour Rabbisמִשְׁקַלthe weight ofכָּלeachאַחַתoneאַרְבָּעִיםfortyסְאָה,seahsוּגְמִירֵיand it is learnedטוּנָאa loadדְּמִידְלֵיthat is lifted byאֱינַשׁa personעַלuponכַּתְפֵּיהּhis shoulderאֵינוֹis notאֶלָּאbutשְׁלִישׁa third ofמַשּׂאוֹיthe loadכַּמַּשּׂאוֹיlike the loadשֶׁמְּסַיְּעִיןwhen they assistאוֹתוֹhimלְהָרִיםto liftסוטהSotahל"ד34b:

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

לַמָּקוֹםTo the placeהַהוּאthatקָרָאhe calledנַחַלthe valley ofאֶשְׁכּוֹלEshcolעַלonאֹדוֹתaccount ofהָאֶשְׁכּוֹלthe clusterאֲשֶׁרwhichכָּרְתוּthey cutמִשָּׁםfrom thereבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וַיָּשֻׁבוּAnd they returnedמִתּוּרfrom scoutingהָאָרֶץthe landמִקֵּץat the end ofאַרְבָּעִיםfortyיוֹם׃days

רַשִׁ״י

וישבוAnd they returnedמתורfrom spyingהארץthe landמקץat the end ofארבעיםfortyיום.daysוַהֲלֹאbut surelyאַרְבַּעfourמֵאוֹתhundredפַּרְסָהparsangsעַלbyאַרְבַּעfourמֵאוֹתhundredפַּרְסָהparsangsהִיא,it isוּמַהֲלַךְand the journey ofאָדָםa manבֵּינוֹנִיaverageעֶשֶׂרtenפַּרְסָאוֹתparsangsלַיּוֹם,per dayהֲרֵיbeholdמַהֲלַךְa journey ofאַרְבָּעִיםfortyיוֹםdaysמִןfromהַמִּזְרָחthe eastלַמַּעֲרָבto the west—וְהֵםand theyהָלְכוּwalkedאָרְכָּהּits lengthוְרָחְבָּהּ?and its widthאֶלָּאratherשֶׁגָּלוּיit was revealedלִפְנֵיbeforeהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy Oneשֶׁיִּגְזֹרthat He would decreeעֲלֵיהֶםupon themיוֹםa dayלַשָּׁנָה,for a yearקִצֵּרHe shortenedלִפְנֵיהֶםbefore themאֶת—הַדֶּרֶךְthe wayשםthere:

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וַיֵּלְכוּAnd they wentוַיָּבֹאוּand they cameאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheוְאֶלand toאַהֲרֹןAharonוְאֶלand toכָּלall ofעֲדַתthe congregation ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelאֶלtoמִדְבַּרthe wilderness ofפָּארָןParanקָדֵשָׁהto Kadeshוַיָּשִׁיבוּand they brought backאוֹתָםto themדָּבָרa reportוְאֶתand —כָּלall ofהָעֵדָהthe congregationוַיַּרְאוּםand they showed themאֶת—פְּרִיthe fruit ofהָאָרֶץ׃the land

רַשִׁ״י

וילכוAnd they wentויבאו.and they cameמַהוּwhat isוַיֵּלְכוּ?and they wentלְהַקִּישׁto compareהֲלִיכָתָןtheir goingלְבִיאָתָן,to their comingמַהjust asבִּיאָתָןtheir comingבְּעֵצָהwith a planרָעָהevilאַףso tooהֲלִיכָתָןtheir goingבְּעֵצָהwith a planרָעָהevilשםthereל"ה35:

רַשִׁ״י

וישיבוAnd they brought backאתםthemדבר.wordאֶת—מֹשֶׁהMosheוְאֶתand —אַהֲרֹן:Aharon

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וַיְסַפְּרוּAnd they relatedלוֹto himוַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidבָּאנוּWe cameאֶלtoהָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרthatשְׁלַחְתָּנוּyou sent usוְגַםand alsoזָבַתflowing withחָלָבmilkוּדְבַשׁand honeyהִואit isוְזֶהand this isפִּרְיָהּ׃its fruit

רַשִׁ״י

זבתflowing withחלבmilkודבשand honeyהוא.it isכָּלanyדְּבַרmatter ofשֶׁקֶרfalsehoodשֶׁאֵיןthat does notאוֹמְרִיםsayבּוֹin itקְצָתsomeאֱמֶתtruthבִּתְחִלָּתוֹ,at its beginningאֵיןdoes notמִתְקַיֵּםendureבְּסוֹפוֹ:at its end

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

אֶפֶסHoweverכִּיthatעַזpowerful isהָעָםthe peopleהַיֹּשֵׁבthat dwellsבָּאָרֶץin the landוְהֶעָרִיםand the citiesבְּצֻרוֹתare fortifiedגְּדֹלֹתlargeמְאֹדveryוְגַםand alsoיְלִדֵיthe children ofהָעֲנָקthe giantרָאִינוּwe sawשָׁם׃there

רַשִׁ״י

בצרות.fortifiedלְשׁוֹןis an expression ofחֹזֶק,strengthוְתַרְגּוּמוֹand its translation"כְּרִיכַן",is kerichanלְשׁוֹןan expression ofבִּירָנִיּוֹתcastlesעֲגֻלּוֹת,roundוּבְלָשׁוֹןand in the language ofאֲרַמִּיAramaicכְּרִיךְkerichעָגוֹל:is round

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

עֲמָלֵקAmalekיוֹשֵׁבdwellsבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofהַנֶּגֶבthe Negevוְהַחִתִּיand the Chittiוְהַיְבוּסִיand the Yevusiוְהָאֱמֹרִיand the Emoriיוֹשֵׁבdwellsבָּהָרin the mountainוְהַכְּנַעֲנִיand the Kenaaniיֹשֵׁבdwellsעַלbyהַיָּםthe seaוְעַלand alongיַדthe side ofהַיַּרְדֵּן׃the Yarden

רַשִׁ״י

עמלקAmalekיושבabidesוגו'.etceteraלְפִיbecauseשֶׁנִּכְווּthat they were burnedבַּעֲמָלֵקby Amalekכְּבָר,alreadyהִזְכִּירוּהוּthey mentioned himמְרַגְּלִיםthe spiesכְּדֵיin orderלְיָרְאָםto terrify themתנחומאTanchuma:

רַשִׁ״י

ועלand byידthe side ofהירדן.the Jordanיָדsideכְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ,is like its literal meaningאֵצֶלbesideהַיַּרְדֵּן,the Jordanוְלֹאand notתוּכְלוּwill you be ableלַעֲבֹר:to cross

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וַיַּהַסAnd silencedכָּלֵבCalebאֶת—הָעָםthe peopleאֶלtowardמֹשֶׁהMosheוַיֹּאמֶרand he saidעָלֹהgo upנַעֲלֶהwe shall surely go upוְיָרַשְׁנוּand we shall possessאֹתָהּitכִּיforיָכוֹלprevailנוּכַלwe can surelyלָהּ׃against it

רַשִׁ״י

ויהסAnd stilledכלב.Calebהִשְׁתִּיקhe silencedאֶת—כֻּלָּם:all of them

רַשִׁ״י

אלtoמשה.Mosheלִשְׁמֹעַto hearמַהwhatשֶּׁיְּדַבֵּרthat he would speakבְּמֹשֶׁה,concerning Mosheצָוַחhe cried outוְאָמַרand said"וְכִיis it indeedזוֹthisבִּלְבַדaloneעָשָׂהdidלָנוּto usבֶןthe son ofעַמְרָם?"Amramהַשּׁוֹמֵעַthe one who heardהָיָהwasסָבוּרunder the impressionשֶׁבָּאthat he was comingלְסַפֵּרto speakבִּגְנוּתוֹ,to his disparagementוּמִתּוֹךְand becauseשֶׁהָיָהthat there wasבְלִבָּםin their heartעַלagainstמֹשֶׁהMosheבִּשְׁבִילon account ofדִּבְרֵיthe words ofהַמְרַגְּלִים,the spiesשָׁתְקוּthey kept silentכֻלָּםall of themלִשְׁמֹעַto hearגְּנוּתוֹ,his disparagementאָמַרhe said"וַהֲלֹאbut did he notקָרַעsplitלָנוּfor usאֶת—הַיָּםthe seaוְהוֹרִידand bring downלָנוּfor usאֶת—הַמָּןthe Mannaוְהֵגִיזand bringלָנוּfor usאֶת—הַשְּׂלָו":the quail

רַשִׁ״י

עלהgo upנעלה.we shall go upאֲפִלּוּevenבַּשָּׁמַיִם,into heavenוְהוּאand if heאוֹמֵרsaysעֲשׂוּmakeסֻלָּמוֹתladdersוַעֲלוּand go upשָׁם,thereנַצְלִיחַwe would succeedבְּכָלin all ofדְּבָרָיוhis wordsסוטהSotahל"ה35a:

רַשִׁ״י

ויהס.And he silencedלְשׁוֹןis an expression ofשְׁתִיקָה,silenceוְכֵןand so"הַסBe silentכָּלallבָּשָׂר"fleshזכריהZechariahב'two,"הַסBe silentכִּיforלֹאnotלְהַזְכִּיר"to mentionעמוסAmosו'six,כֵּןsoדֶּרֶךְis the way ofבְּנֵיchildren ofאָדָם,manהָרוֹצֶהone who wantsלְשַׁתֵּקto silenceאֲגֻדַּתa group ofאֲנָשִׁיםmenאוֹמֵרsays"שי"ט":sst

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

וְהָאֲנָשִׁיםBut the menאֲשֶׁרwhoעָלוּwent upעִמּוֹwith himאָמְרוּsaidלֹאnotנוּכַלwe are ableלַעֲלוֹתto go upאֶלagainstהָעָםthe peopleכִּיforחָזָקstrongerהוּאit isמִמֶּנּוּ׃than us

רַשִׁ״י

חזקstrongerהואis heממנו.than usכִּבְיָכוֹלas if it were possibleכְּלַפֵּיtowardsמַעְלָהAboveאָמְרוּthey saidסוטהSotahכ"ה35:

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

וַיּוֹצִיאוּAnd they brought outדִּבַּתan evil report ofהָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרwhichתָּרוּthey had scoutedאֹתָהּ— itאֶלtoבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלֵאמֹרsayingהָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרwhichעָבַרְנוּwe passedבָהּthrough itלָתוּרto scoutאֹתָהּ— itאֶרֶץis a land thatאֹכֶלֶתconsumesיוֹשְׁבֶיהָits inhabitantsהִואitוְכָלand allהָעָםthe peopleאֲשֶׁרwhomרָאִינוּwe sawבְתוֹכָהּin its midstאַנְשֵׁיare men ofמִדּוֹת׃stature

רַשִׁ״י

אכלתthat eatethיושביה.its inhabitantsבְּכָלin everyמָקוֹםplaceשֶׁעָבַרְנוּthat we passedמְצָאנוּםwe found themקוֹבְרֵיburyingמֵתִים,deadוְהַקָּבָּ"הand the Holy One blessed be Heעָשָׂהdidלְטוֹבָה,for goodכְּדֵיin orderלְטָרְדָםto occupy themבְּאֶבְלָםwith their mourningוְלֹאand notיִתְּנוּthey would payלֵבattentionלָאֵלּוּ:to these

רַשִׁ״י

אנשיmen ofמדות.measuresגְּדוֹלִיםlargeוּגְבוֹהִים,and tallוְצָרִיךְand it is necessaryלָתֵתto giveלָהֶםto themמִדָּה,a measureכְּגוֹןsuch asגָּלְיָתGolyas"גָּבְהוֹhis heightשֵׁשׁsixאַמּוֹתcubitsוָזָרֶת"and a spanשמואלShmuelאAlephי"ז17,וְכֵןand so"אִישׁa man ofמָדוֹן"statureשמואלShmuelבBeisכ"א21,"אִישׁa man ofמִדָּה"statureמלכיםMelachimאAlephי"א11:

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

וְשָׁםand thereרָאִינוּwe sawאֶת—הַנְּפִילִיםthe giantsבְּנֵיthe sons ofעֲנָקAnakמִןfromהַנְּפִלִיםthe giantsוַנְּהִיand we wereבְעֵינֵינוּin our eyesכַּחֲגָבִיםlike grasshoppersוְכֵןand soהָיִינוּwe wereבְּעֵינֵיהֶם׃in their eyes

רַשִׁ״י

הנפילים.The giantsעֲנָקִים,Anakimמִבְּנֵיfrom the sons ofשַׁמְחָזַאיShemchazaiוַעֲזָאֵלand Azaelשֶׁנָּפְלוּwho fellמִןfromהַשָּׁמַיִםthe heavenבִּימֵיin the days ofדּוֹרthe generation ofאֱנוֹשׁ:Enosh

רַשִׁ״י

וכןand soהיינוwe wereבעיניהם.in their eyesשָׁמַעְנוּwe heardאוֹמְרִיםthem sayingזֶהthis oneלָזֶה,to this oneנְמָלִיםantsיֵשׁthere areבַּכְּרָמִיםin the vineyardsכַּאֲנָשִׁיםlike peopleסוטהSotahל"ה35:

רַשִׁ״י

ענק.Anakשֶׁמַּעֲנִיקִיםfor they drapeחַמָּהthe sunבְּקוֹמָתָןwith their heightשםthereל"ד34:

פָּסוּק יד

Pasuk 14

וַתִּשָּׂאAnd raisedכָּלallהָעֵדָהthe congregationוַיִּתְּנוּand they gaveאֶת—קוֹלָםtheir voiceוַיִּבְכּוּand weptהָעָםthe peopleבַּלַּיְלָהin the nightהַהוּא׃that

רַשִׁ״י

כלall ofהעדה.the congregationסַנְהֶדְרָאוֹתthe SanhedrinsתנחומאTanchumaיבtwelve:

פָּסוּק טו

Pasuk 15

וַיִּלֹּנוּAnd they complainedעַלagainstמֹשֶׁהMosheוְעַלand againstאַהֲרֹןAharonכֹּלall ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelוַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidאֲלֵהֶםto themכָּלall ofהָעֵדָהthe congregationלוּif onlyמַתְנוּwe had diedבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofמִצְרַיִםMitzrayimאוֹorבַּמִּדְבָּרin the wildernessהַזֶּהthisלוּif onlyמָתְנוּ׃we had died

רַשִׁ״י

לוwould thatמתנו.we had diedהַלְוַאיwould thatוָמַתְנוּ:and we died

פָּסוּק טז

Pasuk 16

וְלָמָהand whyיְהוָהHashemמֵבִיאis bringingאֹתָנוּusאֶלtoהָאָרֶץthe landהַזֹּאתthisלִנְפֹּלto fallבַּחֶרֶבby the swordנָשֵׁינוּour wivesוְטַפֵּנוּand our childrenיִהְיוּwill beלָבַזfor spoilהֲלוֹאis it notטוֹבbetterלָנוּfor usשׁוּבto returnמִצְרָיְמָה׃to Mitzrayim

פָּסוּק יז

Pasuk 17

וַיֹּאמְרוּAnd they saidאִישׁeach manאֶלtoאָחִיוhis brotherנִתְּנָהLet us appointרֹאשׁa leaderוְנָשׁוּבָהand let us returnמִצְרָיְמָה׃to Mitzrayim

רַשִׁ״י

נתנהLet us appointראש.a leaderכְּתַרְגוּמוֹlike its Targum"נְמַנֵּיlet us appointרֵישָׁא"a chief—נָשִׂיםlet us setעָלֵינוּover usמֶלֶךְ;a kingוְרַבּוֹתֵינוּand our Rabbisפֵרְשׁוּ,explainedלְשׁוֹןan expression ofעֲ"זָidol worshipסנהדריןSanhedrinק"ז107:

פָּסוּק יח

Pasuk 18

וַיִּפֹּלAnd fellמֹשֶׁהMosheוְאַהֲרֹןand Aharonעַלuponפְּנֵיהֶםtheir facesלִפְנֵיbeforeכָּלallקְהַלthe assembly ofעֲדַתthe congregation ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

פָּסוּק יט

Pasuk 19

וִיהוֹשֻׁעַAnd Yehoshuaבִּןson ofנוּןNunוְכָלֵבand Calevבֶּןson ofיְפֻנֶּהYefunehמִןfromהַתָּרִיםthose who scoutedאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe landקָרְעוּrentבִּגְדֵיהֶם׃their clothes

פָּסוּק כ

Pasuk 20

וַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidאֶלtoכָּלall ofעֲדַתthe congregation ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלֵאמֹרsayingהָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרwhichעָבַרְנוּwe passedבָהּthrough itלָתוּרto spy outאֹתָהּitטוֹבָהgoodהָאָרֶץis the landמְאֹדveryמְאֹד׃much

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

This aliyah details the tragic events of the Meraglim's mission, beginning with their physical scouting of the land and the gathering of its immense fruits, and culminating in their return to Kadesh. Although they initially acknowledge that the land flows with milk and honey, they quickly spread fear by describing the inhabitants as giants and the cities as impregnable. Despite Calev's faithful protestations, the other spies declare that the nation cannot conquer the land, causing Bnei Yisrael to weep bitterly, rebel against Moshe and Aharon, and demand a return to Mitzrayim, while Moshe, Aharon, Yehoshua, and Calev fall on their faces and tear their clothes in deep anguish.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

My dear talmid, look at the tragic mistake of the meraglim. They looked at the giants of the land and said, "We looked like grasshoppers to ourselves, and so we must have looked to them." The moment they viewed themselves as small and helpless, they projected that weakness onto everyone else, losing their emunah in Hashem's promise.

How often do we do the exact same thing in our own avodah? We face a difficult nisayon, a bad habit we want to break, or a lofty spiritual goal, and the yetzer hara whispers, "Who are you to try? You are nothing but a grasshopper compared to this challenge." We look at our struggles and decide we are too weak to overcome them, forgetting that Hashem is standing right there with us.

Caleb and Yehoshua tried to scream the truth: "The land is exceedingly good!" They knew that with Hashem, no giant is too big. Your neshama is a part of Elokim Above; you are never a grasshopper. When you face a spiritual hurdle today, do not measure your own strength against the obstacle. Measure the obstacle against the infinite power of Hashem who is helping you.

Today, when you face a difficult task or a temptation that feels too big to overcome, stop and say to yourself: "I am not a grasshopper, and with Hashem's help, I can surely do this."